Indian top-orders finally provide a good start on the day one of the third Test of the away series against the hosts Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne). At the stumps on day one, India was batting on 215/2.
Starting the game with the 1-1 level, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli decided to bat first after winning the toss. Indian opener Mayank Agarwal has made his international cricket debut through this game.
Beginning with the new opening partnership, Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal provided the 40-run partnership before Vihari was dismissed on just 8 runs.
Also watch: Pat Cummins Almost Injured Hanuma Vihari With A Bouncer
Mayank carried his debutant innings in a brilliant way and completed his half-century in 95 balls. The debutant opener had an 83-run partnership for the second wicket with the no.3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara.
After scoring 76 runs off 161 balls (8 fours and only six), Mayank was caught behind. At next, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli took the responsibility to stretch that innings with the set batsman Pujara.
In-form Pujara completed his half-century in 152 balls and remained not out at the end of the day on 68 off 200 balls (6 fours).
On the other hand, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli got crucial luck at the end moment of the day when the Aussie skipper and wicketkeeper Tim Paine dropped a low-diving opportunity. At the end of the day, Kohli was not out on 47 off 107 balls (6 fours). They have already put an unbroken 92-run partnership for the third wicket.
Also watch: Mitchell Starc Stuns Himself And Virat Kohli
It was the very hard day for the Aussie bowlers as only the pacer Pat Cummins (2/40) managed to pick up wickets.
Some important stats of day 1 of Melbourne Test between Australia and India
- Making his international cricket debut, Mayank Agarwal scored 76 runs. Highest score by an Indian batsman on the debutant Test innings on the Australian soil (Making his Test debut in Australia). The previous record was 51 by Dattu Phadkar at Sydney in 1947.
- Making his international cricket debut, Mayank Agarwal scored 76 runs. The joint second highest knock by a visiting Test debutant batsman (former West Indies batsman Roy Frederick also scored 76 runs in 1968) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne). The record is 83 by Sir Jack Hobbs (England) in 1908.
- All the top three Indian partnerships were for 40 or more runs each. It is the fifth time on the Australian soil when each of the top three Indian partnerships has added 40 or more runs in the same Test innings. Last time it happened during the 2015 Sydney Test (fourth innings).
- All the top three Indian partnerships were for 40 or more runs each. In this year, it happened one more time outside the Asian soil during the Nottingham Test (third innings) against England. It is the first time happened twice in a calendar year when each of the top three Indian partnerships has added 40 or more runs in a Test innings outside the Asian soil.
